So I got the bright idea to install my new headlights myself. Anyway....I swore triple checked...etc that all the bolts where in connecting my front bumper/ground effects to the plastic that is under the front of the car. Well I guess I was wrong. The driver's side (where my CAI is) Got ripped all to hell. My CAI is now partially exposed to the road debris/water...etc. Should I not drive the car until I can get this replaced?!?! Any ideas where I can get this piece at? Help please! I'm pretty much freaking out since it happened while driving in the rain....GO FIGURE!! Thanks all...

 

You'll probably have to get it from the dealer - unless there's a wrecked tC in a junkyard near you.

 

I just went out and checked it. The plastic surrounding the wheel well is 100% in tact. Its the bottom piece which is broke. Yeah, I I guess I will order it tomorrow. Should I be worried about driving?? Thanks for the quick response.

 

Maybe be a little worried if it rains... other than that... no.

 

i HATE that crap... its expensive too.. like 90 bucks for a new one

 

Wow 90 bucks...... Guess that is one way to learn from your mistakes... Pay for it....literally....

 

just dont drive in the rain

 

heh... I have the kaminari Kit on my tc, and from the very first day with the car that plastic piece was getting pushed into the ground from the airflow thru the front bumper - I got so fed up with trying to get it to stay put that one day I got under the car and ripped it off. this act eventually led to the removal of my wheel well liners, as that underpanel was helping keep them in place. Since then the car has been behaving as if it has a CAI on it lol...

I honestly don't believe that those plastic pieces serve any real purpose on our car - well, maybe the wheel well liners do, but Ill eventually get them rhinolined to make up for it. And I drive in the rain all the time - south florida weather lol - no problems.

 

just to add on to my last... in the time since I removed the wheel well liners, my mpg has risen from an average of 24.5 to 26.5 mpg, so those underpanels IMHO were apparently creating some serious drag by effectively restircting airflow out of the engine bay.

 

i have the kit also and i just loaded it up with zip ties

 

my friend ripped his out because he was slammed on c/o's and he had a CAI. no problems for months.

 

I took mine out aswell because everynow and then with 18's on 235 with H-techs I would hit bumps and it would hit it and evetually it made it very loose so I just yanked it out.

 

Thanks all for the responses! A little double sided 3M tape and zip ties and we are all set until the new piece comes in.